Windmill



(No Model.)

W. A. JOHNSON.

WINDMILL.

No. 557,681. Patented Apr. 7, 1896.

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VILLIAM A. JOHNSOX, OF 'IINIGAN, MISSOURI.

WINDVHLL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,681, dated April 7, 1896.

Application led March 28, 1893. Renewed October 26, 1895. Serial No. 567,035. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that LXVILLIAM A. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at'lVinigan, in the county of Sullivan, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVindmills; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to windmills in which the power or wind wheel is incased and arranged to revolve in a horizontal plane.

The object of the presentinvent-ion is to provide simple and efficient devices forholding the mouth of the wind-wheel to the wind at all times, and which will shift to adapt itself to the current of wind.

A further object of the invention is the provision of devices for controlling the size of the mouth or inlet in the said case to control the speed of the engine under the various changes in the velocity of the wind.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a wind-inlet that will be simple in construction, readilyaccessible in all its parts for purposes of cleaning, oiling, and repairing, and which will be durable and satisfactoryin its results and respond quickly to the change and velocity of the wind.

The improvement consists of the novel features and the peculiar construct-ion and combination of the parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and which are shown in the annexed drawings, in which* Figure 1 is a perspective view of a windmill or engine embodying my invention, the top side or cover of the case being removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view of the engine on a line parallel and coinciding with the tail-vane.

The table A is circularin form and suitably supported on a tower or framework mounted upon the top of a house or other structure. This table is stationary and forms the base or support for the operating part-s of the engine.

The wind-wheel B is composed ot' a hub and radial arms, the latter being provided at their outer ends with buckets l), which are V-shape or /l and have the diverging ends secured to the said arms. These buckets may be formed of any suitable material, but arepreferably constructed of sheet metal. W'ings b" are formed at the lower side and near the diverging ends of the buckets by slitting the diverging ends of the buckets for a short distance from the said diverging ends. These wings b' are bent outwardly to rest against the edge of the arms b2 of the said wheel B and arc apertured to receive suitable fastenin gs, which serve to secure the said buckets to the said arms. By thus forming the wings b' the buckets l) obtain a purchase or support upon the top side of the arms b2 and the lower edge of the buckets comes flush, or nearly so, with the lower side of the arms b2, thereby leaving very little space between the top side of the table A and the lower end of the bucket for the escape of wind. The buckets are arranged with the apices set to advance, so as to offer a minimum amount of resistance and so that the current of air will bank up between the diverging members of the said buckets and be utilized to the best possible advantage in rotating the wheel.

The circular case D encircles the table A and the wheel B and is supported by grooved rollers g3, which are adapted to travel upon a circular track rfl provided near the outer edge of the table A. These rollers g3 are joui"- naled in blocks which are attached to the inner side of the case D.

The case D is held to the table A by irons d2, which are attached to the outer side of the case at intervals and have their lower ends constructed to overlap the under side of the table A. This arrangement of the irons d2 prevents the case being lifted from the table by the wind. The case D is composed, preferably, of a band of sheet metal which is strengthened at its top edge by a stout ring (Z3. This ring is further strengthened by cross-braces d" and d5. A curb C is provided to form a flume for the buckets to travel in and cause the air to expend its full force in rotating' the wheel. This curb C is attached to and depends from the cross-braces d*l di and extends only about two-thirds of the way 'around to confine the wind while serving to rotate the wheel. This case is closed in on its top side by a suitable cover c as shown most clearly in Fig. 2.

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The case D is adapted to rotate to bring the entrance end to the wind, and for this purpose is provided with a tail-vaneE, which is secured at its inner end, preferably to the cross-bar d5, and is supported about midway of its ends on a bracket e which is projected vertically from the rim d3. An opening e' is formed in the side of the case and constitutes the mouth for the entrance of the wind into the said case to rotate the wheel. A hood or deliector e2 is provided at one end of the said opening or mouth e to direct the wind into the case and against the buckets. This opening or mouth e is adapted to be closed by a door f, which is suitably mounted so as to slide or move on the case when opening and closing the said mouth e. This door f is preferably suspended on rollers from a rail F, which is located above the opening e and is attached at its ends to the casing. This door is controlled bythe devices hereinafter more particularly referred to. The case is provided with a second opening e3 at a point diametrically opposite an opening e2. This opening e3 forms an exitor outlet for the air after the same has served the purpose of rotating the V wheel. The openings e and e3 are in a straight line with the tail-vane, hence will always be in line with the direction of the current of wind.

A pulley or disk G is journaled to one side of the plane of the tail-vane and eccentric to the wind-wheel B and has its journal mounted in the crosswbar d5 and projected vertically above said cross-bar and provided with two vanes g g', which are arranged relatively at right angles to one another. These vanes g g are constructed to present different areas for the wind to act upon, the vane g presenting alarger surface than the vane g. A suitable stop g2 is arranged to hold the vane g g in such a position that the wind will strike each at about the same angle, and by reason of the vane g being of larger area the wind will act with greater force upon it and turn it so as to move the vane g against the force of the wind until the vane g is in the wind. Should the force of the wind increase, the pulley G will be rotated so that the wind will act upon both vanes g g to rotate the said pulley G against the force of the weight which is provided to open the door f.

The weight H for opening the door f is attached to the lower end of a chain or cable 71 which passes over a guide-pulley h' and is attached at its other end to the door f. This weight H is preferably of the form of a bucket, so as to receive additional weights for the purpose of varying the force to hold the door opened against the pressure of the wind on the governor-vaines g g. Obviously', the

greater the weight H the stronger must be the power to rotate the pulley G to effect a closing of the door f against the weight H. A chain or cable 7L2 is connected at one end to a disk or pulley G and at its other end to the door f and passes over a guide-pulley h3. Under normal conditions the door f stands wide open under the action of the weights H. Should the force of the wind exceed that of the weight H, the pulley or disk G will be rotated, and drawing upon the chain or cable 7a2 will effect a closing of the door f, more'or less proportionate to the force of theV wind. Obviously, should the force of the wind fall Vbelow the pressure exerted by the weight H,

the latter will open the door f and permit a greater amount of wind to enter the case.

In order that the door f may be closed by hand, a chain or cord I is attached at one end to the door f Vand passes over a suitable guide and extends within convenient reach. By

drawing upon the chain or cord I the door f can be closed and held shut by securing the lower end of the said chain or cord I in any desired manner.

If desired, the exit e3 maybe provided with a door similar to that provided for the opening e', and devices similar to that for controlling the opening and closing of the door f may be provided for controlling the said door provided for the opening' or exit e?.

It will be understood that the engine will be protected from the weather by a suitable housing or cover. (Not shown.)

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 'isl. In a wind-'engine the combination of a table, a wind-wheel revolving in a plane parallel or horizontal with the said table, a case inclosing the said wheel and provided with entrance and exit openings, and having a tail vane, a door for closing the entrance-opening and normally held open by a yielding force, a disk having connection with the said door, and governonvanes attached to the journal of the said disk and arranged relatively at about right angles to each other, said gover nor-vanes presenting different areas for the wind to act upon, substantially as set forth.

2. In a wind-engine the combination of a table, the wind-wheel arranged to revolve in a plane parallel or horizontal with the said table, and a case encircling the wheel and provided with a curb to forma flume for the buckets of the wind-wheel to travel in, and having inlet and exit openings, substantially as set forth. 3. In a wind-engine the combination with the arms of a win d;wheel, of V-shape buckets having wings at one side formed by slits extending inward from the diverging ends and secured to the side of the said arm, the buckets being supported on the arm substantially in the manner shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

XVILLIAM A. JOHNSON.

lVitnesses T. B. ABBOTT,

J. W. THRASHER.

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